Toledo @ Arkansas State preview

GODADDY BOWL STORYLINES

1. Arkansas State makes its fourth consecutive appearance in the GoDaddy Bowl when the Red Wolves face Toledo in Mobile, Ala. Toledo won seven of its final nine regular-season games, but the Rockets will be tested by a Red Wolves team that has compiled 35 victories over the past four seasons. Arkansas State is seeking its third straight GoDaddy Bowl victory after beating Ball State 23-20 last season.

2. Toledo is led by the running back tandem of Kareem Hunt and Terry Swanson, who combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. Hunt finished second in the nation in yards per carry at 7.9. The duo will likely receive a heavy workload against an Arkansas State squad that ranks 91st nationally in run defense at 191.9 yards per game.

3. Both teams struggled in non-conference play this season, with Toledo allowing a total of 107 points in back-to-back losses to Missouri and Cincinnati. The Rockets also fell 37-30 to an Iowa State team that finished 2-10. Arkansas State lost to Tennessee and Miami before recording an impressive 21-14 overtime win over Utah State on Sept. 20.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Toledo -4

ABOUT TOLEDO (8-4, 7-1 MAC): Hunt missed three games with an ankle injury but still rushed for 1,360 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Rockets, who average 34.4 points per game. Quarterback Logan Woodside, who threw for 19 scores with seven interceptions, finished the regular season on a high note with a career-high five touchdown passes in a 52-16 victory over Eastern Michigan. Linebacker Junior Sylvestre recorded a team-high 94 tackles and leads a unit that ranked 11th in the MAC in pass defense.

ABOUT ARKANSAS STATE (7-5, 5-3 Sun Belt): Dual-threat quarterback Fredi Knighten passed for 2,874 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and has also rushed for 775 yards and 11 scores. The dynamic junior accounted for 449 total yards and four touchdowns in a 68-35 victory over New Mexico State in the Red Wolves’ regular-season finale. Linebacker Qushaun Lee and cornerback Artez Brown each had four interceptions to lead the defense, which allowed an average of 39 points in its last three games.

PREDICTION: Toledo 41, Arkansas State 35